I love the mix of natural and urban sounds in our garden; the street car in the distance, neighbours clinking glasses, dogs barking, birds chirping. August is quiet on our street, and sounds emanate. If we’re lucky, the tree crickets put on an evening concert for us. They’ve been more vocal of late, or maybe we’re just listening better.
A Horiatiki without tomatoes is like a Caldo Verde without potatoes. Tomato, tomato, potato, potato –– you may as well call the whole thing off. Tomatoes are the star ingredient in this classic Greek Salad. And with ones as juicy and sweet as those that grow all over Greece, why would anyone substitute them for a lowly pepper? Unless you’re me. I’ve hated tomatoes for as long as I can remember. As a child, I ate my own version of the salad –– peeled cucumbers, Kalamata olives, red onion, oregano, salt, pepper and olive olive oil –– while everyone else’s plates overflowed with plump tomatoes. On days when we’d eat Gemista, there was always a single green pepper stuffed with rice for me, and a platter of stuffed tomatoes for everyone else at the table. To this day, I won’t go near a raw tomato for love or money. I picture summer dinners of beautiful, glossy tomatoes from the garden bathed in olive oil and basil I want to be sick. It’s such a bore, my scorn for tomatoes. All you tomato lovers will salivate over this exquisite ode to the noble fruit. It’s not for me, but it’s just too beautiful not to share.
Anna Farba’s botanical illustrations are delightful. Her berries, flower petals, leafy greens and insects bring whimsy and wonder to walls, packaging, rugs, blankets and mugs. I really like Farba’s vegetable and medicinal plant posters –– the radishes are my favourite –– and I can see myself wearing this blooming cotton thistle on the daily. Have a look at her Instagram page; I’m potty about this recent palm tree chart!
My favourite table is one covered in a mishmash of tableware. Hand thrown pottery from France, vintage Milk Glass plates, a jewel toned cake stand and a ceramic carafe blue like the lake. Always a winner, is the traditional splattered crockery from Italy. I’d love a stack of lemon yellow plates, and I’m dizzy for this red and blue platter. Handmade in Southern Italy in a pottery Studio which dates back 18 generations, splatter ware can find a place at any table.
“Poundcake is a beautiful vessel for ripe summer fruits,” begins this post for fancy strawberry shortcake. Pound cakes date back to the 1700s and were originally made with four pounds of ingredients. There are endless varieties. I personally love a lemon loaf, but this simple strawberry number looks utterly delicious. The more strawberries the better, And don’t hold back on ice cream.
It was the painting below that caught my eye and led me to the work of American Modernist, Milton Avery. There’s an air of Matisse in his work. His portraits are quite lovely. “That gift for capturing his sitter without controlling her is one of the secrets to the longevity of his art,” writes Rachel Spence in the Financial Times. I love this beautiful bather in her lemon yellow suit. And this girl by the harbour is delightful. Have a look at more of his work here.
In celebration of our Luma’s seventh spin around the sun, I bring you the exuberantly colourful work of abstract expressionist painter, Jules Olitski. Olitski painted with an industrial spray gun, and created canvases that are a wash of joyous colour and light. On his creative process Olitski said, “expect nothing, do your work, celebrate.”
The surrealist paintings of Gertrude Abercrombie.
Crip and colourful porcelain pottery from The Granite.
“Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” The work of Interior decorator, Billy Baldwin.
Pistachio, apricot and orange blossom cake.
A large bowl sits on our kitchen counter filled with tomatoes and chilli peppers from our neighbour’s garden as well as Greek figs, lemons and bright yellow squash. I’m not much a fruit eater myself, but I love to see all those wonderful colours and shapes together. This post from design blogger, Victoria Smith offers plenty of inspiration for displaying summer produce, from hanging baskets to jewel toned glass platters. We arrange flowers in a vase, why not give our peaches, plums and cherries the same artistic treatment.
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